To fully understand what Elvis Dumervil just received with his new contract, it helps to consider where he would have been without it.

There was a chance Dumervil, who led the NFL with 17 sacks last season, would have felt forced to become a training camp holdout starting Aug. 1, which would have drawn a $16,523 daily fine.

And if he was a holdout, how effective would the Broncos' dominant pass rusher have been this season without those dreaded, but necessary, daily reps in training camp?

And had Dumervil played on through the 2010 season without a new contract, know that every story, every comment, almost every question, would have put his performance in context with his uncertain future.

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All of these distractions and potential hardships are now pleasantly moot after the Broncos and Dumervil reached an agreement late Thursday on a five-year, $58.332 million extension that is tacked on to the $3.168 million he already was going to draw this season.

The deal includes a $43.168 million guarantee against injury that establishes a record among NFL pass rushers.

Considering the NFL may not have a season in 2011 because of a labor dispute between owners and the players union, Dumervil expressed appreciation for the team's long-term commitment in him during a conference call today with the Denver media.

"There was a bunch of uncertainty due to the CBA," he said. "It was something I didn't really want to dwell on, but something where I wanted to get it done because I wanted to go into the season all about football."

Despite his large contract, the bulk of which will be paid out in 2011 and 2012, Dumervil still will make less money this year than the Broncos' other projected starting outside linebacker, Robert Ayers, who will draw $5.12 million.

With Dumervil, a fourth-round pick in 2006, expected to become a marked man by opposing protection schemes this season, it may be past time for the Broncos' two, first-round pass rushers in recent years — Jarvis Moss and Ayers — to start reaching the quarterback.

To date, Moss and Ayers have 3 1/2 combined sacks in four combined seasons, or 38 1/2 less sacks than Dumervil has in his four seasons.

Asked who can help him reach the quarterback, Dumervil said: "We have guys all over. You have Robert Ayers, who I think had a tremendous offseason. And Jarvis Moss had a real good offseason as well. And I think we have a really smart coaching staff. I'm sure I'm not going to be just at one point. I'm sure I'm going to be moved around.

"If my sack totals are down and other guys make plays, that's what it's all about. It's not about the numbers all the time. It's about how effective I can be in terms of freeing someone up. As far as that guy, I don't know. We'll have to see when the time happens."

Rockies relief pitcher John Axford, who hasn't pitched for the team since last Wednesday, was forced to leave spring training camp after his 2-year-old son was bit by a rattlesnake twice in his right foot.

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